CBFC cuts 23 seconds of intimate scenes and adds warnings in Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson film Verity

The Central Board of Film Certification has cleared the upcoming thriller Verity with an 'A' certificate after ordering specific modifications. The Examining Committee directed the makers to remove explicit portions, resulting in the deletion of 23 seconds of intimate scenes, which mostly come from a make-out sequence between lead actors Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.

Censor Changes

Beyond the intimate scene cuts, the censor board mandated several other changes before passing the film on September 29. Anti-smoking and anti-alcohol warning messages were added to all scenes where characters consume those substances. Censors also required the complete deletion of e-cigarette visuals and the blurring of a specific medicine brand name.

Release Details

Following these revisions, the film's final runtime stands at 118.41 minutes, which translates to 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds. Directed as a thriller about a struggling writer hired to finish a bestselling author's book after the writer goes into a coma, the movie also stars Josh Hartnett. Paid previews begin on the evening of October 1, followed by a full release on October 2.

Context

The Central Board of Film Certification routinely reviews films before theatrical release in India and assigns age-based ratings alongside required content modifications. Such edits regarding smoking, alcohol, and mature content follow standard regulatory guidelines applied to adult-rated movies.